U.S. patent application number 13/365694 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-16 for recording apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Takehiko SAITO, Hidenao SUZUKI, Sanshiro TAKESHITA, Hiroyuki YODA.
Application Number | 20120205858 13/365694 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46617385 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120205858 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TAKESHITA; Sanshiro ; et
al. |
August 16, 2012 |
RECORDING APPARATUS
Abstract
A recording apparatus includes: a holding unit that holds the
recorded recording medium fed out from the medium discharge unit in
a standing position; and a medium pressing unit that protrudes to
the holding unit with respect to a virtual surface in the
feeding-out direction of the recording medium by the nip roller of
the medium discharge unit, opposite to the holding unit, and
presses the recorded recording medium fed out from the medium
discharge unit against the holding unit.
Inventors: |
TAKESHITA; Sanshiro;
(Shiojiri-shi, JP) ; SAITO; Takehiko;
(Matsumoto-shi, JP) ; SUZUKI; Hidenao;
(Matsumoto-shi, JP) ; YODA; Hiroyuki;
(Shiojiri-shi, JP) |
Assignee: |
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
46617385 |
Appl. No.: |
13/365694 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/121 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 13/106
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/121 |
International
Class: |
B65H 3/06 20060101
B65H003/06; B65H 5/06 20060101 B65H005/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 10, 2011 |
JP |
2011-026867 |
Feb 10, 2011 |
JP |
2011-026868 |
Claims
1. A recording apparatus comprising: an image recording unit that
records an image on a recording medium; a medium discharge unit
that includes a nip roller composed of a driving roller and a
driven roller and feeds out a recorded recording medium upward; a
holding unit that holds the recorded recording medium fed out from
the medium discharge unit in a standing position; and a medium
pressing unit that protrudes to the holding unit with respect to a
virtual surface in the feeding-out direction of the recording
medium by the nip roller of the medium discharge unit, opposite to
the holding unit, and presses the recorded recording medium fed out
from the medium discharge unit to the holding unit.
2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
driving roller of the nip roller of the medium discharge unit is
disposed at the holding unit.
3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lower
end portion of the recorded recording medium fed out from the
medium discharge unit is moved to the holding unit by the driving
roller.
4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the
holding unit has an inclined portion that guides the lower end
portion of the recording medium, which is moved to the holding unit
by the driving roller, downward at an angle.
5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
holding unit has a support portion that continues into the inclined
surface and supports the recording medium from the lower
portion.
6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medium
pressing unit includes a freely rotatable roller that rotates in
contact with the recording medium.
7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a
plurality of the medium pressing units are disposed in the
direction perpendicular to the feeding-out direction.
8. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a guide roller that is disposed upstream from the
medium discharge unit and comes in contact with the surface
opposite to the surface of the holding unit of the recording
medium, wherein the guide roller protrudes to the holding unit with
respect to the virtual surface and presses the recording medium
against the holding unit.
9. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a medium cassette that accommodates a non-recorded
recording medium in a standing posture, and is detachable and
attachable, wherein the holding unit is formed on the outer surface
of the medium cassette.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus
holding a recorded recording medium in a standing posture.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] A recording apparatus including a recording unit that
performs recording on a recording medium, a discharge-side
transporting mechanism that transports a recorded recording medium,
a discharge-side accommodating unit that receives a recorded
recording medium transported by the discharge-side transporting
mechanism, and a pushing body that pushes the recording medium
transported by the discharge-side transporting mechanism into the
discharge-side accommodating unit has been known in the related art
(see JP-A-2003-252507).
[0005] The discharge-side transporting mechanism has a driving
roller and a counter-roller and feeds the recording medium to the
discharge-side accommodating unit by using the rollers. Meanwhile,
the pushing body is a moving body or a rotary body operating, close
to the discharge-side accommodating unit, and pushes the rear end
portion (lower end portion) of the recording medium to the right
plate (holding surface) of the discharge-side accommodating unit.
Accordingly, it is possible to prevent jam due to stopping of the
rear end portion of the recording medium close to the driving
roller and the counter-roller.
[0006] However, according to the configuration, since the pushing
body is implemented by a movable moving body or rotary body, a
driving source for moving the pushing body is necessary.
Accordingly, there is a problem in that the recording apparatus
becomes complicated. Further, when the rear end of a recording
medium is pushed by a movable moving body or rotary body, it is
necessary to move the pushing body after the recording medium comes
out from the driving roller and the counter-roller. That is, there
is a problem in that complicated control is necessary.
SUMMARY
[0007] An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide
a recording apparatus that can feed out the lower end of a
recording medium to a holding surface from the vicinity of a medium
discharge unit, with a simple configuration without complicated
control.
[0008] According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a
recording apparatus including: an image recording unit that records
an image on a recording medium; a medium discharge unit that
includes a nip roller composed of a driving roller and a driven
roller and feeds out a recorded recording medium upward; a holding
unit that holds the recorded recording medium fed out from the
medium discharge unit; and a medium pressing unit that protrudes to
the holding unit with respect to a virtual surface in the
feeding-out direction of the recording medium by the nip roller of
the medium discharge unit, opposite to the holding unit, and
presses the recorded recording medium fed out from the medium
discharge unit to the holding unit.
[0009] According to this configuration, since the medium pressing
unit protrudes to the holding surface from the virtual surface in
the feeding-out direction of the recording medium, the recording
medium that is being fed out is pressed against the holding surface
at all time. Further, when the recording medium is completely fed
out from the medium discharge unit, the medium pressing unit
presses the lower portion of the recording medium and the lower end
of the recording medium is a free state, such that the lower end of
the recording medium is moved to the holding surface. As described
above, it is possible to feed out the lower end of the recording
medium to the holding surface from the vicinity of the medium
discharge unit. Meanwhile, since the medium pressing unit has the
structure that allows the recording medium to be fed out in a
protruding state, it is possible to provide the recording apparatus
that holds the paper to overlap each other without making the paper
pressing unit a movable type, and that has a simple configuration
without complicated control.
[0010] Further, as the recording medium is pressed against the
driving roller by the medium pressing unit disposed above
(downstream of) the medium discharge unit, it is possible to
improve transport force of the driving roller by increasing
friction force between the recording medium and the driving roller
to suppress slip. Since the transport force of the driving roller
is not improved directly by the driven roller, it is possible to
achieve transport force for stably feeding out recording medium,
with the pinching force of the driving roller and the driven roller
maintained.
[0011] In the apparatus, the driving roller of the nip roller of
the medium discharge unit may be disposed at the side of the
holding unit.
[0012] According to this configuration, the driving roller comes in
rotation contact with the lower end portion of the recording medium
right after being fed out, from below. As a result, feeding force
to the holding unit is applied to the recording medium while the
lower end portion of the recording medium is supported on the outer
circumference surface of the driving roller.
[0013] In the apparatus, the lower end of the recorded recording
medium fed out from the medium discharge unit may be moved to the
holding unit by the driving roller.
[0014] According to this configuration, since the driving roller
comes in direct contact with the print surface of the recording
medium, the print surface is less contaminated or damaged.
[0015] In the apparatus, the holding unit may have an inclined
portion that guides the lower end of the recording medium, which is
moved to the holding unit by the driving roller, downward at an
angle.
[0016] According to this configuration, the lower portion of the
recording medium can be smoothly guided to a holding position by
the inclined portion.
[0017] In the apparatus, the holding unit may have a support
portion that continues into the inclined surface and supports the
recording medium.
[0018] According to this configuration, the recording medium can be
appropriately held at the holding position by the support portion.
Further, it is possible to effectively prevent contact between the
held recording medium and the medium discharge unit.
[0019] In the apparatus, the medium pressing unit may include a
freely rotatable roller that rotates in contact with the recording
medium.
[0020] According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce
frictional resistance against the feeding-out by the medium
pressing unit. Therefore, it is possible to stably feed out the
recording medium to overlap the previous recording medium.
[0021] In the apparatus, a plurality of the medium pressing units
may be disposed in the direction perpendicular to the feeding-out
direction.
[0022] According to this configuration, since the recording medium
is pressed at a plurality of positions in the width direction, it
is possible to press the recording medium throughout the width
region. Therefore, it is possible to reliably feed out the lower
end portion of the recording medium to the holding surface.
[0023] The recording apparatus may further include a guide roller
that is disposed upstream from the medium discharge unit and comes
in contact with the surface opposite to the surface of the holding
unit of the recording medium, in which the guide roller may
protrude to the holding unit with respect to the virtual surface
and presses the recording medium against the holding unit.
[0024] According to this configuration, since the medium guide unit
is disposed at the side of the driven roller, under, that is,
upstream from the medium discharge unit, the medium guide unit
relatively presses the recording medium against the driving roller.
That is, the medium guide unit presses both upper and lower sides
(both upstream and downstream sides) in cooperation with the medium
pressing unit, thus it is possible to further improve the transport
force of the driving roller.
[0025] Further, the recording apparatus may include a medium
cassette that accommodates a non-recorded recording medium in a
standing posture, and is detachable and attachable in which the
holding unit may be formed on the outer surface of the medium
cassette.
[0026] In the recording apparatus holding the recorded recording
medium in a standing posture, generally, the recording medium is
held with the upper portion exposed outside the apparatus and the
recording medium is taken out from the apparatus by the exposed
portion. However, when a recording medium with small dimensions,
such as a postcard, is held, the upper portion of the recording
medium is not exposed outside the apparatus, such that it is
difficult to take out the recording medium.
[0027] On the other hand, according to the configuration, since the
holding unit can be separated as an integral unit with the medium
cassette, it is possible to easily take out a holding unit even if
the recording medium with small dimensions is held.
[0028] The recording apparatus of the invention includes: an image
recording unit that records an image on a recording medium; a
holding unit that holds the recorded recording medium in a standing
posture or on a holding surface to overlap each other; a medium
discharge unit that feeds out the recorded recording medium along
the holding surface from below; a medium pressing unit that is
positioned under the recording medium right after being fed out,
protrudes to the holding surface with respect to the virtual
surface which becomes the feeding-out direction of the recording
medium by the medium discharge unit, and presses the recording
medium against the holding surface.
[0029] According to this configuration, since the medium pressing
unit protrudes to the holding unit from the virtual surface which
becomes the feeding-out direction of the recording medium, the
recording medium that is being fed out is pressed against the
holding surface. Further, when the recording medium is completely
fed out from the medium discharge unit, the medium pressing unit
presses the lower portion of the recording medium and the lower end
of the recording medium is in a free state, such that the lower end
of the recording medium is moved to the holding surface. As
described above, it is possible to feed out the lower end of the
recording medium to the holding unit from the vicinity of the
medium discharge unit. Meanwhile, since the medium pressing unit
has a structure that allows the recording medium to be fed out in a
protruding state, it is possible to provide the recording apparatus
that holds the paper to overlap each other without making the paper
pressing unit in a movable type, and that has a simple
configuration without complicated control.
[0030] The recording apparatus of the invention includes: an image
recording unit that records an image on a recording medium; a
medium discharge unit that includes a nip roller composed of a
driving roller and a driven roller and feeds out a recorded
recording medium upward; and a medium pressing unit that is
disposed above the medium discharge unit, disposed at the driven
roller side while protruding to the driving roller with respect to
the virtual surface which becomes the feeding-out direction of the
recording medium by the medium discharge unit, and presses the
recording medium against the driving roller.
[0031] According to this configuration, as the recording medium is
pressed against the driving roller by the medium pressing unit
disposed above (downstream from) the medium discharge unit, it is
possible to improve transport force of the driving roller by
increasing friction force between the recording medium and the
driving roller to suppress slip.
[0032] Since the transport force of the driving roller is not
increased directly by the driven roller, it is possible to achieve
transport force for stably feeding out the recording medium, with
the pinching force of the driving roller and the driven roller
maintained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] The invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like
elements.
[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance
of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 2 is a lateral cross-sectional view showing the
internal structure of the recording apparatus.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view showing the internal
structure of the recording apparatus.
[0037] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view showing a paper
cassette.
[0038] FIG. 5 is a main part cross-sectional view showing a portion
including a discharged-paper holding unit and a paper pressing
mechanism.
[0039] FIG. 6 is a rear view showing a portion including the paper
pressing mechanism.
[0040] FIGS. 7A to 7C are transition diagrams showing a feeding
operation of the paper pressing mechanism.
[0041] FIG. 8 is a view showing the relationship of the feeding
accuracy of the lower end of the paper, the position of a pressing
roller, and the stiffness of paper.
[0042] FIG. 9 is a structural view showing the structure of
pressing paper against a driving-discharge roller.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0043] Hereinafter, a recording apparatus according to an
embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the
accompanying drawings. The recording apparatus performs desired
recording while transporting paper (recording medium) held in a
standing posture and holds (stocks or accumulates) the discharged
printed paper to overlap each other in a standing state. Further,
the X-axial (left-right) direction, the Y-axial (front-rear)
direction, and the Z-axial (up-down) direction are defined, as
shown in the figures, which are described below. Further, although
the recording apparatus 1 is implemented to able to perform
longitudinal disposition and lateral disposition (disposition for
performing printing on paper and discharging the paper in a
horizontal position), the longitudinal disposition is described
below. Further, a recording apparatus implemented only for
longitudinal disposition may be used.
[0044] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance
of the recording apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording
apparatus 1 has the external appearance formed by a case 2 having a
thin box shape with the Z-axial dimension larger than the X-axial
and Y-axial dimensions. An operation panel 21 with operation
buttons, a cable terminal 22 where a cable for connecting a PC or
the like is connected, and a cartridge cover 23 opening/closing a
cartridge mount (not shown) for separably mounting a plurality of
ink cartridges (not shown) are disposed on the top of the case 2.
Further, a paper outlet cover 25 opening/closing a paper outlet 24
(see FIG. 2) for discharging recorded paper P is disposed on the
top of the case 2. Further, the paper outlet cover 25 is
opened/closed by a user, but is automatically opened by an
opening/closing mechanism (not shown) even if recording is
performed with the cover closed. Further, a cassette mount 26 for
separably mounting a paper cassette 5, which is described below, is
widely disposed on the front of the case 2.
[0045] The internal structure of the recording apparatus 1 is
described in detail with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a lateral
cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the
recording apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the recording apparatus
1 includes; a paper cassette 5 separably mounted on the cassette
mount 26 and accommodating sheets of paper P in a standing state; a
transporting unit 4 feeding the accommodated paper P along a
transport path R for turning over and feeding the paper P upward,
at the lower portion of the recording apparatus 1; a printing unit
(image recording unit) 3 disposed in contact with the transport
path R or at the vertical middle position of the recording
apparatus 1 and performing ink jet type printing on the paper P;
and an apparatus frame (not shown) supporting the transporting unit
4 and the printing unit 3. Further, the printing unit 3 that has
performed printing on the paper P is an example of an image
recording unit recording an image on a recording medium and
recording the image on the recording medium is not limited to the
ink jet type and may be implemented by other types.
[0046] The printing unit 3 is supported by the apparatus frame and
includes a carriage guide shaft 34 and a carriage guide plate 36
which X-axially extend the full width, a carriage unit 30 supported
by the carriage guide shaft 34 and the carriage guide plate 36 to
be able to reciprocate, and a carriage moving mechanism 37 (see
FIG. 3) reciprocating the carriage unit 30 along the carriage guide
shaft 34 and the carriage guide plate 36. The carriage guide shaft
34 supports the lower end of the carriage unit 30 and the carriage
guide plate 36 supports the upper end of the carriage unit 30
against the force causing a rotation about the carriage guide shaft
34. That is, the carriage unit 30 is held at an angle by the
carriage guide shaft 34 and the carriage guide plate 36.
[0047] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view showing the internal
structure of the recording apparatus 1. FIG. 3 shows that some of
the members are omitted. As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage unit 30
includes a carriage 31 having a box shape supported by the carriage
guide shaft 34 and the carriage guide plate 36 to be able to
reciprocate, an ink jet head 32 (see FIG. 2) mounted on the
carriage 31, and a connection adapter 38 connected to the ink jet
head 32 from above and connected to the ink cartridge through an
ink tube (not shown). The ink jet head 32 has a plurality of nozzle
lines (not shown) discharging ink droplets of a plurality of
colors, opposite the paper P with a predetermined gap
therebetween.
[0048] The carriage moving mechanism 37 includes a timing belt 71
extending along the carriage guide shaft 34, driving pulley 72 and
a driven pulley (not shown) which hold the timing belt 71, a
connecting-fixing portion (not shown) connecting the timing belt 71
with the carriage unit 30 (carriage 31), and a carriage motor 73
driving the driving pulley 72. As the carriage motor 73 rotates
forward and backward, the carriage unit 30 is X-axially
reciprocated (in left-right direction) through the timing belt 71.
With the reciprocation, the ink jet head 32 of the carriage unit 30
performs discharging and driving, thereby performing so-called main
scanning.
[0049] Further, although the ink cartridge independently is
disposed from the carriage 31 which is a so-called off-typed
cartridge in the embodiment, a so-called on-typed cartridge where
the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage 31 may be used.
Further, although a so-called serial printer in which the carriage
31 performs recording while X-axially moving is exemplified in the
embodiment, a fixing-typed ink jet head 32 covering the width of
paper P may be used. Further, the invention is not limited to the
ink jet type and may be applied to other recording types.
[0050] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view showing the paper cassette
5. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the paper cassette 5 includes a
cassette body (medium cassette) 51 accommodating un-printed
(un-recorded) paper P in a standing posture and a discharged-paper
holding unit (holding unit) 52 disposed on the outer surface
(inside the apparatus) of the cassette body 51 and holding the
printed (recorded) paper P in a standing posture or to overlap each
other on a holding surface 61. That is, un-printed paper P is
supplied from the cassette body 51 and printed paper P is
discharged to the discharged-paper holding unit 52. Further, it is
possible to take out the held printed paper P with the cassette
body 51 by separating the paper cassette 5 from the apparatus body.
Further, the inside of the recording apparatus 1 can be exposed by
separating the paper cassette 5, such that it is possible to easily
alleviate a problem, such as that the paper P is stuck on the
transport path R. Further, though not shown, the paper cassette 5
can Z-axially freely slide with respect to the case 2 and the
attaching/detaching operation is performed by sliding the paper
cassette 5.
[0051] The cassette body 51 includes a cassette case part 53 that
is mounted to be aligned with the front surface of the case 2 (see
FIG. 1) and forms the entire appearance of the recording apparatus
1, a body tray 54 formed entirely in a tray shape with the side of
the cassette case part 53 as a accommodating surface, an upper
cover 55 opening/closing a paper accommodating space for
accommodating the paper P, opposite to the upper portion of the
body tray 54, and a movable tray 59 positioned under the body tray
54 and fluctuating the front end of the paper P accommodated in the
paper accommodating space.
[0052] Further, the outer surface of the upper cover 55, that is,
the surface facing the inside of the apparatus when being mounted
on the case 2 functions as a holding surface 61 for holding
(accumulating) the printed paper P (the detail is provided
below).
[0053] The movable tray 59 is disposed under the body tray 54,
which becomes downstream in the paper-feeding direction, in a state
where the paper cassette 5 is mounted, and functions as a hopper.
The movable tray 59 can revolve about or around a pair of left and
right fluctuation points 59a disposed substantially at the center
portion in the up-down direction of the body tray 54, and is
fluctuated by a driving mechanism (not shown). Accordingly, it is
possible to make the front end of the accommodated paper P to the
state where the front end comes in press contact with a feeding
roller 41, which is described below, (see FIG. 2), and to the state
where the front end is separated (not shown).
[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, the transporting unit 4 includes a
large-sized feeding roller 41 that comes in rotation contact with
the accommodated paper P to take out the paper P and curved-turns
over and feeds out the paper P upward, opposite to the front end of
the movable tray 59, a guide member 45 and a sub-driven roller 46
that guide the turning-over and feeding, opposite to the feeding
roller 41, a transporting roller 42 that feeds the paper P from the
feeding roller 41 to the printing unit 3, a guide member 33 facing
the printing unit 3, a spur-shaped guide roller 43 that is disposed
at a downstream from the guide member 33 and flattens warping paper
P, a discharge roller (medium discharge unit) 44 that is disposed
at a downstream from the guide roller 43 and discharges the paper P
to the discharged-paper holding unit 52, and a paper pressing
mechanism 47 that is disposed at a downstream from the discharging
roller 44 and presses the paper P against the discharged-paper
holding unit 52. Further, the paper pressing mechanism 47 has a
function of feeding the lower end of the paper P right after being
taken out to the holding surface 61 of the discharged-paper holding
unit 52 from the vicinity of the discharge roller 44.
[0055] The feeding roller 41 is implemented by a driving roller and
transports the paper P taken out from the cassette body 51 in an
arc shape along the outer circumference surface. The guide member
45 is formed in the curved shape opposite to the outer
circumference surface of the feeding roller 41 and guides the paper
P from the outside. The sub-driven roller 46 is implemented by a
freely rotating roller and assists the turning over and feeding by
coming in rotation contact with the feeding roller 41 pinched with
the paper P therebetween. The transporting roller 42 is implemented
by a nip roller including a front transport-driving roller 42a and
a rear transport-driven roller 42b and has a function as a main
roller that controls feeding (sub-scanning) the paper P. Further,
the feeding roller 41 and the transporting roller 42 are
implemented by a plurality of separate rollers disposed at
appropriate intervals in the width direction of the paper P
(X-axial direction), respectively.
[0056] The guide member 33 constitutes a portion of the transport
path R and defines the gap (working gap) between the recording
surface of the paper P and the ink jet head 32 (functions as a
so-called platen). Further, a recession accommodating the ink
discharged to a region offset from the end of the paper P during
borderless printing at a position opposite to the ink jet head 32
is formed at the guide member 33.
[0057] An ink absorbing material (not shown) that absorbs ink is
disposed in the recession. Further, a waste fluid tank (not shown)
storing the waste ink is disposed under the guide member 33.
[0058] The discharge roller 44 is implemented by a nip roller
including a front discharge-driving roller (driving roller) 44a (at
the side of the holding surface 61) and a rear discharge-driven
roller 44b and functions as a tension roller applying tension to
the paper P disposed above the guide member 33. Further, the
discharge roller 44 is disposed around the lower portion of the
discharged-paper holding unit 52 and feeds out the paper P along
the holding surface 61 of the discharged-paper holding unit 52. In
detail, the feeding-out direction of the paper P by the discharge
roller 44 is set to the up-direction inclined toward the paper
cassette 5 (see FIG. 5). Accordingly, the discharged paper P is
moved upward while sliding on the holding surface 61 (described
below) of the discharged-paper holding unit 52 and held on the
holding surface 61 of the discharged-paper holding unit 52.
[0059] The discharge-driving roller 44a is implemented by a rubber
roller and the discharge-driven roller 44b is implemented by a star
wheel (spur-shaped roller). Further, the discharge-driving roller
44a and the discharge-driven roller 44b are each composed of a
plurality of separate rollers disposed at appropriate intervals in
the width direction of the paper P (in the X-axial direction) (see
FIG. 3). Further, though the detail is described below, the
discharge-driving roller 44a comes in rotation contact with the
lower end of the paper P right after being fed out, from below. As
a result, a feeding force to the holding surface 61 is applied to
the paper P in the state where the lower end is supported by the
outer circumference surface of the discharge-driving roller 44a.
Accordingly, the feeding out is assisted by the paper pressing
mechanism 47. Further, according to this configuration, since the
discharge-driving roller 44a does not come in direct contact with
the print surface of the paper P, it is possible to prevent the
print surface from being contaminated or damaged.
[0060] The paper P taken out downward by the feeding roller 41 is
turned over upward by the feeding roller 41, the guide member 45
and the sub-driven roller 46 and transported to the transporting
roller 42. Further, the paper P is pinched between the transporting
rollers 42 and the paper P and fed to the printing unit 3. The
paper P that has undergone recording in the printing unit 3 is
discharged to the discharged-paper holding unit 52 of the paper
cassette 5 through the guide roller 43 and the discharge roller
44.
[0061] In printing, the paper P is intermittently fed
(sub-scanning) substantially in the Z-axial direction by the
transporting unit 4 and the carriage unit 30 is X-axially
reciprocated (main scanning) by the carriage moving mechanism 37
while the ink jet head 32 is driven, such that image data is
printed on the paper P.
[0062] Next, the discharged-paper holding unit 52 and the paper
pressing mechanism 47 are described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a
portion including the discharged-paper holding unit 52. As shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5, the discharged-paper holding unit 52 has the holding
surface 61 implemented by the outer surface (inside the apparatus)
of the upper cover 55, a accommodating portion 62 accommodating the
lower end of the discharged paper P, and a holder 63 disposed on
the holding surface 61 and holding the paper P in a standing
posture.
[0063] The holding surface 61 is a substantially flat surface
positioned between the vicinity of the pair of discharge rollers 44
and the paper outlet 24 and a surface vertically extending, when
the paper cassette 5 is mounted in the case 2. The paper P
discharged by the discharge roller 44 is moved toward the paper
outlet 24 while sliding along the holding surface 61. Further, the
sheets of paper are held to overlap each other on the holding
surface 61. Further, the paper P is made to protrude and discharged
upward from the paper outlet 24, depending on the size of the paper
P. Therefore, it is preferable for the upper cover 55 to be able to
vertically extend/contract.
[0064] The accommodating portion 62 has a support portion 62a
protruding from the holding surface 61 to the discharge roller 44
and supporting the lower end of the paper P and a plurality of
paper inlets (inclining portion) 62b continued into the tip of the
support 62a and inclining upward to the discharge-driving roller
44a. The paper inlets 62b are disposed at appropriate intervals in
the X-axial direction in the spaces between the discharge-driving
rollers 44a, which are the separate rollers. That is, the
accommodating portion 62 entirely forms a substantially comb shape.
Further, the paper inlets 62b appropriately and smoothly guide the
lower end of the paper P fed out to the holding surface 61 passing
the top of the discharge-driving roller 44a by the paper pressing
mechanism 47, further, to the holding position. Meanwhile, the
support 62a supports the paper P moved to the holding position.
Therefore, all the paper P fed from the pair of discharge rollers
44 are accommodated (held) to overlap each other by the holding
surface 61 and the accommodating portion 62 in the standing
posture.
[0065] FIG. 6 is a rear view showing a portion including the paper
pressing mechanism 47. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the paper
pressing mechanism 47 includes a pair of left and right pressing
rollers (medium pressing units) 81 pressing the fed paper P against
the holding surface 61 by the discharge rollers 44 and a pair of
roller frames 82 supported by the apparatus frame and rotatably
supporting the pair of pressing rollers 81. Further, in the pair of
pressing rollers 81, one pressing roller 81 is positioned to press
the paper P with the predetermined minimum width at the center and
the other pressing roller 81 is positioned to press the paper P
with the predetermined maximum width, good balance between left and
right.
[0066] Each of the pressing rollers 81 is a freely rotating roller
that rotates in contact with the paper P and implemented by a star
wheel (spur-shaped roller). Further, the pressing roller 81 is
positioned opposite to the lower portion of the paper P right after
being fed out and protrudes from the discharge-driven roller 44b to
the discharge-driving roller 44a with respect to a virtual surface
S in the feeding-out direction of the discharge roller 44. That is,
the pressing roller 81 allows the paper P to be fed out and presses
the lower portion of the paper P right after being fed out against
the holding surface 61. The paper P is curved by the pressing force
and a reaction force for flattening the curve is generated. The
reaction force is a feeding force for feeding the lower end of the
paper P to the holding surface 61.
[0067] Further, the virtual surface S is perpendicular to the
surface connecting the axial center of the discharge-driving roller
44a and the axial center of the discharge-driven center 44b and
passing through the nip point between the discharge-driving roller
44a and the discharge-driven roller 44b.
[0068] FIGS. 7A to 7C are transition diagrams showing the operation
of the paper pressing mechanism 47 feeding the lower portion of the
paper P.
[0069] As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, in the middle of feeding out the
paper P, the paper P is fed out by the discharge roller 44 in
rotation contact with the surface (print surface) of the pressing
rollers 81 and pressed against the holding surface (see FIG. 7A).
The pressing rollers 81 come in contact with the lower portion of
the paper P and press the paper against the holding surface 61,
right after the paper P is fed out. Further, the discharge-driving
roller 44a comes in rotation contact to the lower end of the paper
P from below while remaining driven (see FIG. 7B). The feeding
force is applied to the lower end of the paper P by the pressing
force of the pressing rollers 81, while the discharge-driving
roller 44a rotates while supporting the lower end of the paper P in
the outer circumference, thereby applying the feeding force to the
lower end of the paper P. The lower end of the paper P is fed to
the holding surface 61 from the vicinity of the discharge roller 44
by the cooperation of the pressing rollers 81 and the
discharge-driving roller 44a. The lower end of the paper P passing
the top of the discharge-driving roller 44a is guided to the paper
inlets 62b and reaches the support portion 62a, and then the paper
P is held along the holding surface 61 (see FIG. 7C). A plurality
of sheets of paper P is held to appropriately overlap each other by
the feeding operation.
[0070] FIG. 8 is a view showing the relationship of the feeding
accuracy, the position of the pressing rollers 81 and the stiffness
of the paper P. As shown in FIG. 8, the accuracy of feeding the
paper P is considerably associated with the protrusion amount of
the pressing roller 81 with respect to the virtual surface S, the
distance from the discharge roller 44 (strictly, the nip point) of
the pressing rollers 81 in the feeding-out direction, and the
stiffness (stiffness) of the paper P. In detail, basically, as the
protrusion amount is large, the distance from the discharge roller
44 is short, and the stiffness of the paper P is large, and the
feeding accuracy is high, while the feeding accuracy decreases when
they increase exceeded the elastic yield point according to the
stiffness of the paper P. Accordingly, considering this feature, it
is preferable to set the protrusion amount and the distance from
the discharge roller 44 in accordance with predetermined stiffness
of the paper P, and dispose the pressing rollers 81. Further, it is
necessary to set the protrusion amount of the pressing rollers 81
such that the axial center of the pressing rollers 81 does not
cross the virtual surface S such that the upper end portion of the
paper is not put into the rears side of the pressing rollers
81.
[0071] The guide roller 43 of FIG. 5 is a freely rotating roller
that rotates in contact with the paper P and is implemented by a
star wheel (spur-shaped roller). Further, the guide roller 43 is
implemented by a plurality of separate rollers disposed at
appropriate intervals in the width direction of the paper P
(X-axial direction). Further, the guide roller 43 is disposed at
the upstream of (under) the discharge roller 44, opposite to the
transport path R from the side of the discharge-driven roller 44b,
and protrudes with respect to the virtual surface S. Further, the
guide roller 43 flattens warping paper P fed from the guide member
33 and guides the paper P to the discharge roller 44. Further, the
guide roller 43 assists pressing against the discharge roller 44a
of the paper P by the pressing roller 81.
[0072] FIG. 9 is a structural view showing the structure of
pressing the paper P against the discharge-driving roller 44a.
Further, FIG. 9 is a little different in the position of the
pressing roller 81 with respect to the virtual surface S from FIG.
5 in order to easily illustrate the effects of the embodiment. As
shown in FIG. 9, the pressing roller 81 presses the paper P against
the discharge-driving roller 44a, at the downstream from (above)
the discharge-driving roller 44a. The paper P is curved by the
pressing force and a reaction force to flattening the curve is
generated. Meanwhile, the guide roller 43 comes in contact with the
paper P, upstream from (under) the discharge-driving roller 44a.
The opposite side of the paper P is likely to be raised on the
discharge-driving roller 44a upward to the discharge-driven roller
44b by the reacting force due to the pressing force of the pressing
roller 81, but the guide roller 43 presses down the paper.
Accordingly, the guide roller 43 relatively presses the paper P
against the discharge-driving roller 44a. As described above, the
pressing rollers 81 and the guide roller 43 cooperate with each
other to press the paper up and down (upstream and downstream).
[0073] As a result, the paper P is strongly pressed to the
discharge-driving roller 44a by the reaction force (stiffness) for
flattening. That is, the force pressing the paper P against the
discharge-driving roller 44a is generated by three-point
bending.
[0074] According to the configuration described above, it is
possible to completely feed the lower end of the paper P to the
holding surface 61 from the vicinity of the discharge roller 44, by
using the pressing rollers 81. Meanwhile, since the paper pressing
mechanism 47 has the structure that allows the paper P to be fed
out in a protruding state, it is possible to hold the paper P to
overlap each other without making the paper pressing mechanism 47 a
movable type, such that it is possible to provide the recording
apparatus 1 having a simple configuration without complicated
control. In particular, the longitudinal disposition, like the
recording apparatus 1, is preferable to reduce the disposition area
by reducing the Y-axial length as much as possible.
[0075] Although it is necessary to incline the virtual surface S in
the feeding-out direction of the paper P by the discharge roller 44
such that the paper P is stably facing the paper cassette 5 in
order to reduce the Y-axial length as much as possible, it is
preferable to make the virtual surface S as parallel as possible
with the Z-axial direction. However, as the virtual surface S comes
closer in the Z-axial direction when the disposition area of the
recording apparatus 1 is reduced, it is difficult to feed the lower
end of the paper P and the lower end of the paper P is easily
stopped at the discharge roller 44. This is because when the
virtual surface S comes closer in the Z-axial direction, that is,
the paper P is substantially vertically fed out, the nip point of
the discharge roller 44 significantly lowers from the top of the
discharge-driving roller 44a, such that the discharge-driving
roller 44a slides (due to insufficient friction) on the lower end
of the paper P offset from the nip point, and accordingly, the
paper P fails to pass the top of the discharge-driving roller 44a
and stops at the position. Therefore, according to the invention,
it is possible to reliably implement a simple configuration for
feeding the paper P to the holding surface 61.
[0076] Further, since the discharge-driving roller 44a assists
feeding of the lower end of the paper P in rotation contact with
the lower end of the paper P right after being fed out, it is
possible to more reliably feed the paper P to the holding surface
61.
[0077] Further, as the paper P is pressed against the
discharge-driving roller 44a by the pressing roller 81 disposed
above (downstream) the discharger roller 44, the friction force
between the paper P and the discharge-driving roller 44a is
increased, such that it is possible to improve the transport force
of the discharge-driving roller 44a by suppressing slip. Since the
transport force of the discharge-driving roller 44a is not
increased directly by the discharge-driven roller 44b, it is
possible to achieve transport force for stably feeding out the
paper P, with the pinching force of the discharge-driving roller
44a and the discharge-driven roller 44b maintained.
[0078] Further, since the guide roller 43 is disposed at the side
of the discharge-driving roller 44b, under (upstream) the discharge
roller 44 and presses both upper and lower sides (upstream and
downstream sides) in cooperation with the pressing roller 81, it is
possible to further improve the transport force of the
discharge-driving roller 44a.
[0079] Further, since the paper P is kept pressed against the
discharge-driving roller 44a by the pressing roller 81, the lower
end of the paper P that is fed out is feed to the holding surface
61 from the vicinity of the discharge roller 44. That is, the lower
end of the paper P is not stopped around the discharge roller 44,
such that it is possible to prevent jam.
[0080] Further, since the member (pressing roller 81) that presses
the paper P is implemented by a freely rotatable roller in the
paper pressing mechanism 47, it is possible to reduce frictional
resistance against feeding of the paper pressing mechanism 47.
Therefore, it is possible to stably feed out the paper P to overlap
the previous paper P.
[0081] Further, as the pressing roller 81 is implemented by a star
wheel, the contact area to the paper P can be decreased, such that
it is possible to reduce the frictional resistance against the
feeding-out while suppressing ink from sticking on the pressing
roller 81.
[0082] Further, as the pressing rollers 81 are disposed in a pair
at the left and right sides, it is possible to press the paper P at
two positions in the width direction, such that it is possible to
press the paper P throughout the width region. Therefore, it is
possible to more reliably feed the lower end of the paper P to the
holding surface 61.
[0083] Further, as the support 62a and the paper inlet 62b are
disposed in the discharged-paper holding unit 52, it is possible to
appropriately hold the paper P at the holding position by the
support portion 62a and smoothly guide the lower end of the paper P
to the holding position by using the paper inlet 62b. Further, it
is possible to effectively prevent contact between the held paper P
and the discharge roller 44.
[0084] Further, as the discharged-paper holding unit 52 is formed
on the outer surface of the cassette body 51, it is possible to
separate the discharged-paper holding unit 52 as an integral unit
with the cassette body 51, such that it is possible to easily
separate the discharged-paper holding unit 52 even if paper P with
small dimensions (postcard) is held.
[0085] Further, in the embodiment, although the member (pressing
roller 81) that presses the paper P is implemented by a freely
rotatably roller, the member is not limited thereto as long as the
member can press the paper P against the holding surface 61 while
allowing the discharge roller 44 to feed out the paper. For
example, the member may be a cylindrical fixing member, a
semi-cylindrical fixing member, and triangle pole-shaped fixing
member having the holding surface 61 as the front. That is, it may
be considered to use a fixing member with an inclined surface
making the holding surface 61 inclining upward with respect to the
virtual surface S or a curved surface as a contact surface.
[0086] Further, although two pressing rollers 81 are disposed in
parallel in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the
feeding-out direction) of the paper P in the embodiment, one
pressing roller 81 may be disposed or three or more pressing
rollers may be disposed in parallel in the width direction.
[0087] Further in the embodiment, each of the pressing rollers 81
may be directly biased or rotatably biased in the protrusion
direction to each of the roller frames 82.
[0088] The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2011-26867, filed Feb. 10, 2011 and the entire disclosure of
Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-26868, filed Feb. 10, 2011 are
expressly incorporated by reference herein.
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